Data processing apparatus, measurement apparatus and data collection method

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a data processing system and a data collection method by which measurement data can be read in and transmitted easily, without connecting a terminal for transmitting data with various types of measurement apparatuses, and further provides a measurement apparatus to be used for the data processing system and the data collection method. The data processing system at least uses: a measurement apparatus ( 10 ) provided with a display screen ( 13 ); a terminal ( 20 ); and a server ( 30 ). The measurement apparatus ( 10 ) includes: a measurement portion for obtaining measurement data; a code transforming portion for transforming the measurement data into a bar code, a two-dimensional code ( 8 ) or a composite code; and a display portion for displaying the code on the display screen. The terminal ( 20 ) includes; an image pickup portion for picking up an image on the display screen ( 13 ) that displays the code; an analysis portion for generating measurement data for transmission by analyzing the code that is picked up; and a transmission portion for transmitting, to the server ( 30 ), the measurement data for transmission. The server includes a memory portion for storing the transmitted measurement data for transmission.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus, ameasurement apparatus and a data collection method.

BACKGROUND ART

Since patients who suffer from diabetes usually are required to knowtheir own blood glucose levels, portable blood glucose measurementapparatuses that can be carried easily has been used recently. Such aportable blood glucose measurement apparatus is provided with a storagemedium for storing measurement data. Thus, a doctor can read out themeasurement data from the storage medium of the blood glucosemeasurement apparatus, and can provide appropriate remedies and adviceto the patient, based on the thus read-out measurement data.

Moreover, it is a burden for the patient to visit a medical institutionoften in order to disclose his/her measurement data to the doctor. Thus,a system for enabling the patient to transmit his/her measurement datato a server of the medical institution via the internet has beenutilized recently (for example, see Patent documents 1 to 3).

According to this system, a patient can transmit his/her measurementdata to the server immediately, by using a communication equipment suchas a mobile phone and a personal computer (hereinafter, called a “PC”).Moreover, the doctor can know the condition of the patient by accessingthe server that stores the measurement data, by using PC or the like.Furthermore, the patient can receive advice by e-mails or the like fromthe doctor.

Such a system using the internet can be applied not only to bloodglucose measurement apparatuses but also to other apparatuses, and thusit is considered that the application of the system will becomewidespread in the future. Examples of the other apparatuses includeblood pressure measurement apparatuses, heart rate measurementapparatuses, urinary constituent measurement (urinary analysis)apparatuses, electrocardiogram measurement apparatuses, passometers andthe like.

Patent document 1: JP 2002-368904 A

Patent document 2: JP 2002-368907 A

Patent document 3: WO 01/088764

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in order to transmit the measurement data obtained by themeasurement apparatus by using the communication equipment, it isrequired to connect the measurement apparatus with the communicationequipment by wire or wireless, and to transmit the measurement data tothe communication equipment. Thus, there accordingly is a problem inthat the measurement apparatus is required to be provided with aninterface that corresponds to the communication equipment to beconnected.

Moreover, the measurement data obtained by the measurement apparatus hasa special format, and thus is required to be transformed into atransmittable format in order to be transmitted by the communicationequipment. Thus, in the case of using a PC as the communicationequipment, there is a problem in that a software for transforming theformat is required to be developed for each measurement apparatus.

Furthermore, in the case of using a mobile phone as the communicationequipment, there is a problem in that, as shown in Patent documents 1and 2, an adaptor for transforming the format that intervenes betweenthe mobile phone and the measurement apparatus is necessary, and such anadaptor for each measurement apparatus is required to be developed.Moreover, transmission methods for the mobile phones vary depending onthe mobile phone companies and the individual products, and such anadaptor is required to be developed also for each mobile phone companyand each product.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-describedproblems, and to provide a data processing system and a data collectionmethod in which measurement data can be read in and transmitted easily,without connecting a terminal for transmitting data with various typesof measurement apparatuses, and further to provide a measurementapparatus to be used for performing the data processing system and thedata collection method.

Means for Solving Problem

In order to attain the above-described object, a first data processingsystem of the present invention at least includes: a measurementapparatus provided with a display screen; a terminal; and a server,wherein the measurement apparatus includes: a measurement portion forobtaining measurement data; a code transforming portion for transformingthe measurement data into a bar code, a two-dimensional code or acomposite code; and a display portion for displaying the code that isobtained by the transformation on the display screen. The terminalincludes; an image pickup portion for picking up an image on the displayscreen that displays the code; an analysis portion for generatingmeasurement data for transmission by analyzing the code that is pickedup; and a transmission portion for transmitting, to the server, themeasurement data for transmission, and the server includes a memoryportion for storing the received measurement data for transmission.

In order to attain the above-described object, a second data processingsystem of the present invention at least includes: a measurementapparatus provided with a display screen; a terminal; and a server,wherein the measurement apparatus includes: a measurement portion forobtaining measurement data; a code transforming portion for transformingthe measurement data into a bar code, a two-dimensional code or acomposite code; and a display portion for displaying the code that isobtained by the transformation on the display screen. The terminalincludes; an image pickup portion for picking up an image on the displayscreen that displays the code; and a transmission portion fortransmitting, to the server, image data on the display screen that isobtained by the image pick-up, and the server includes: an analysisportion for generating measurement data to be stored by analyzing thecode that is contained in the received image data; and a memory portionfor storing the measurement data to be stored.

Moreover, in order to attain the above-described object, a measurementapparatus of the present invention includes: a measurement portion forobtaining measurement data; a code transforming portion for transformingthe obtained measurement data into a bar code, a two-dimensional code ora composite code; and a display portion for displaying the code that isobtained by the transformation.

Furthermore, in order to attain the above-described object, a first datacollection method of the present invention is a data collection methodfor collecting, by a server, measurement data that is transmitted from ameasurement apparatus via a terminal, wherein the measurement apparatustransforms the measurement data into a bar code, a two-dimensional codeor a composite code and allows a display screen to display thetransformed code, and the terminal picks up an image on the displayscreen that displays the code, generates measurement data fortransmission by analyzing the code that is picked up, and transmits themeasurement data for transmission, the data collection method includingat least a step of receiving the measurement data for transmission andstoring the received measurement data for transmission, by the server.

Moreover, in order to attain the above-described object, a second datacollection method of the present invention is a data collection methodfor collecting, by a server, measurement data that is transmitted from ameasurement apparatus via a terminal, wherein the measurement apparatustransforms the measurement data into a bar code, a two-dimensional codeor a composite code and allows a display screen to display thetransformed code, and the terminal picks up an image on the displayscreen that displays the code, and transmits image data on the displayscreen that is obtained by the image pick-up. The data collection methodincluding at least a step of receiving the image data, generatingmeasurement data to be stored by analyzing the code that is contained inthe received image data and storing the generated measurement data to bestored, by the server.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the measurementdata is transformed into a bar code, a two-dimensional code or acomposite code, and is displayed on the display screen. Moreover, sincethe terminal for transmitting the data is provided with an image-pickupfunction, the measurement data is captured into the terminal as theimage data, in a state of being transformed into the code. Thus,according to the present invention, the measurement data can be read inand transmitted easily, without connecting the terminal for transmittingthe data with various types of the measurement apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a measurementapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an appearance of the measurement apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, more specifically,FIG. 2A shows a state where a bar code is displayed on a display screen,and FIG. 2B shows a state where a two-dimensional code is displayed onthe display screen.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminalaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an entire configuration of a data processingsystem according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing operations of the data processing systemaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminalaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server accordingto Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing processes that are performed by a dataprocessing system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing processes that are performed by ameasurement apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the above-described data processing system and the measurementapparatus of the present invention, the code transforming portion mayhave a configuration to transform the measurement data into a QR code(registered trademark). Also, the measurement portion may have aconfiguration to obtain a blood glucose level, a blood pressure, a heartrate, the number of steps, a body weight, a body fat percentage or acholesterol level of a living body, as the measurement data.

Embodiment 1

A measurement apparatus, a data processing system and a data collectionmethod according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. Firstly, configurationsof the measurement apparatus and the data processing system according toEmbodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

The data processing system according to Embodiment 1 mainly is providedwith the measurement apparatus, a terminal and a server. Herein, inEmbodiment 1, an example where the measurement apparatus is a bloodglucose measurement apparatus will be described, but the measurementapparatus of Embodiment 1 is not limited to the blood glucosemeasurement apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the measurementapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shownin FIG. 1, the measurement apparatus mainly is provided with acontrolling portion 1, a measurement portion 2, a code transformingportion 3, a memory portion 4, a display portion 5 and a dock 6. Inaddition, the measurement apparatus is portable and compact.

The measurement portion 2 obtains measurement data. More specifically,the measurement portion 2 outputs the measurement data for specifying ablood glucose level of a living body to the controlling portion 1, basedon information from a sensor (not illustrated) for measuring the bloodglucose level of the living body. The measurement data that is output tothe controlling portion 1 is output to the memory portion 4 by thecontrolling portion 1, and is stored in the memory portion 4. Moreover,at this time, the controlling portion 1 also outputs, to the memoryportion 4, time information that is output from the dock 6. This timeinformation specifies a measurement date and time, which is stored inthe memory portion 4 as a part of the measurement data.

Moreover, in the memory portion 4, adding information to be added to themeasurement data is stored in advance. Examples of the addinginformation include an apparatus ID by which the server (see FIGS. 4 and5) identifies the measurement apparatus, a user ID for specifying theuser who uses the measurement apparatus, a name of a measurement item,management information, a mealtime of the user and the like. Herein,when the user pushes an input button (not illustrated) that is providedon the measurement apparatus at his/her mealtime, the controllingportion 1 outputs the time information at this time to the memoryportion 4, whereby the mealtime of the user is obtained.

The code transforming portion 3 transforms the measurement data that isobtained by the measurement portion 2 into a bar code, a two-dimensionalcode or a composite code. Herein, in Embodiment 1, the controllingportion 1 obtains the measurement data (including the measurement dateand time) and the adding information from the memory portion 4, andoutputs the measurement data, to which the adding information is added,to the code transforming portion 3. Thus, the code transforming portion3 transforms the measurement data, to which the adding information isadded, into the bar code, the two-dimensional code or the compositecode.

Moreover, in Embodiment 1, the code transforming portion 3 can transformthe measurement data into either of a bar code, a two-dimensional codeand a composite code. Thus, even in the case where the terminal(illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5) can analyze only any of a bar code, atwo-dimensional code and a composite code, the code transforming portion3 is compatible with the terminal. Herein, the code transforming portion3 may have a configuration that is capable of transforming themeasurement data only into any of a bar code, a two-dimensional code anda composite code.

In Embodiment 1, it is preferable to use the bar code, thetwo-dimensional code or the composite code that satisfies theinternational standard. Examples of the bar code include a JAN code, anITF code, a NW-7 code and the like. Moreover, examples of thetwo-dimensional code include a QR (Quick Response) code (registeredtrademark), a data code (ECC200), a ST code (registered trademark) andthe like. Examples of the composite code include combinations of theabove-described examples of the bar code with the above-describedexamples of the two-dimensional code. The code formed by the codetransforming portion 3 is displayed on the display screen (notillustrated in FIG. 1) of the display portion 5.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the measurementapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, morespecifically, FIG. 2A shows a state where a bar code is displayed on adisplay screen, and FIG. 2B shows a state where a two-dimensional codeis displayed on the display screen.

A measurement apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 2 is of a palm size, and can becarried by a user. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, on an exterior of themeasurement apparatus 10, a code transforming button 9, a sensormounting portion 11, a power button 12 and a display screen 13 areprovided. In addition, an input button by which a user performs variousoperations with respect to the measurement apparatus 10 further isprovided on the measurement apparatus 10, which is not illustrated inFIG. 2.

To the sensor mounting portion 11, a sensor (not illustrated) formeasuring a blood glucose level is attached. The user measures his/herblood glucose level by attaching, to this sensor, a very small quantityof his/her blood drawn from his/her fingertip or the like. Moreover,this sensor for measuring a blood glucose level is disposable, and theuser attaches a new sensor to the sensor mounting portion 11 every timehe/she measures.

After the completion of the measurement, the display screen 13 displaysa blood glucose level, a measurement date and time, and the like, incharacters and numerals. Thereafter, when the user pushes the codetransforming button 9, the display screen 13 displays a bar code 7 shownin FIG. 2A and a QR code (registered trademark) 8 shown in FIG. 2B.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lightweight and thin displaysuch as a liquid crystal display and an EL display is used as thedisplay portion 5 (see FIG. 1), in order to reduce the size of themeasurement apparatus. However, it is necessary to display a bar codeand a two-dimensional code on the display screen 13, as shown in FIG. 2.For example, in the case of displaying the QR code (registeredtrademark), 21×21 cells at the minimum are necessary, and further, atleast 29×29 cells are necessary to provide a margin. Thus, it ispreferable to use a display having a resolution of 177×177 cells ormore, or a resolution of 185×185 cells or more to provide the margin, asthe display portion 5 of the measurement apparatus 10. Also, alightweight and thin display that will be developed in the future can beused as the display portion of the measurement apparatus.

The measurement apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a blood glucosemeasurement apparatus, but the measurement apparatus of the presentinvention may be a measurement apparatus other than this. Morespecifically, examples of the other measurement apparatus include ablood pressure measurement apparatus, a heart rate measurementapparatus, a urinary constituent measurement (urinary analysis)apparatus, an electrocardiogram measurement apparatus, a passometer(pedometer), a body-weight measurement apparatus (scale), a body fatpercentage measurement apparatus (body fat monitor), a body temperaturemeasurement apparatus (clinical thermometer), a cholesterol levelmeasurement apparatus (cholesterol monitor) and the like. In this case,the measurement portion 2 obtains a blood pressure, a heart rate, thenumber of steps, a body weight, a body fat percentage, a cholesterollevel or the like of a living body as the measurement data.

Moreover, for example, in the case where the measurement apparatus is ablood pressure measurement apparatus, the measurement portion 2 outputsthe measurement data for specifying a blood pressure to the controllingportion 1. Furthermore, in the case where the measurement apparatus is aheart rate measurement apparatus, the measurement portion 2 outputs themeasurement data for specifying a heart rate to the controlling portion1. The parts except the measurement portion 2 can be structuredsimilarly to the example of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminalaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3,the terminal is provided with a controlling portion 21, an image pickupportion 22, a communication portion 23, a memory portion 24 and ananalysis portion 25.

The image pickup portion 22 picks up an image on the display screen 13(see FIG. 2) of the measurement apparatus that displays the bar code,the two-dimensional code or the composite code, and outputs image datato the controlling portion 21. In Embodiment 1, the image pickup portion22 is constituted of an image pickup lens, an image pickup device suchas a CCD and a CMOS, a peripheral circuit for outputting the image dataand the like, which are not illustrated in the figure.

The image data that is input into the controlling portion 21 is outputfrom the controlling portion 21 to the memory portion 24, and is storedin the memory portion 24. The analysis portion 25 reads in the imagedata that is stored in the memory portion 24 via the controlling portion21, and analyzes the bar code, the two-dimensional code or the compositecode that is picked up, thereby generating measurement data fortransmission.

Herein, in the case where the image quality of the image data is low,the case where a part of the bar code, the two-dimensional code or thecomposite code of the image data is lacked or the like, the analysiscannot be performed, and the analysis portion 25 outputs a signal fornoting the controlling portion 21 that the analysis cannot be performed.In such a case, the controlling portion 21 can allow a display screen(not illustrated) of the terminal to display a notification of thenecessity to perform the photographing again.

Moreover, in Embodiment 1, the analysis portion 25 analyzes the code, bycomparing: plural bar patterns or plural cell patterns that are storedin the memory portion 24 in advance as a reference; with a pattern thatis specified by the image data. Furthermore, the cell patterns or thebar patterns as the reference are stored in the memory portion 24 so asto correspond to character codes that can be treated by the terminal.Thus, the measurement data that can be transmitted by the terminal isgenerated due to the analysis by the analysis portion 25.

The measurement data for transmission that is generated by the analysisportion 25 is transmitted to an external server (see FIGS. 4 and 5) bythe communication portion 23. The communication portion 23 is structuredto be capable of transmitting and receiving data via the internet. Also,the communication portion 23 may be provided with only a function totransmit, to the server, the measurement data for transmission. However,in Embodiment 1, the communication portion 23 is provided also with afunction to receive the data. Thus, the terminal also can receive thedata from the server.

In Embodiment 1, the terminal can be realized by installing software foranalyzing a bar code, a two-dimensional code or a composite code into amobile phone that is provided with, for example, a CCD camera or a CMOScamera and a function to connect to the internet. In this case, a CPU ofthe mobile phone functions as the controlling portion 21 and theanalysis portion 25 shown in FIG. 3. Also, the function to analyze a barcode, a two-dimensional code or a composite code can be applied byproviding a special chip for performing the analysis to the mobilephone.

Also, by connecting an external camera such as a USB camera to a generalPC or PDA that can be connected to the internet, and installing thesoftware for analyzing the bar code, the two-dimensional code or thecomposite code into the PC or the PDA, the terminal according toEmbodiment 1 can be realized. In this case, a CPU of the PC or the PDAfunctions as the controlling portion 21 and the analysis portion 25shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the serveraccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4,the server is provided with a controlling portion 31, an ID verifyingportion 32, a memory portion 34 and a communication portion 33. Thecommunication portion 33 is structured to be capable of transmitting andreceiving data with respect to the terminal shown in FIG. 3 via theinternet. The measurement data transmitted from the terminal is receivedby the communication portion 33, and is output to the controllingportion 31.

The controlling portion 31 extracts an apparatus ID and a user ID fromthe input measurement data, and outputs them to the ID verifying portion32. The ID verifying portion 32 judges whether the input apparatus IDand the input user ID respectively are matched with a registeredapparatus ID and a registered user ID, and outputs the result to thecontrolling portion 31. Herein, the registered apparatus ID and theregistered user ID are stored in the memory portion 34.

Moreover, in the case where the apparatus ID and the user ID alreadyhave been registered, the controlling portion 31 allows the memoryportion 34 to store the measurement data. On the other hand, in the casewhere the apparatus ID and the user ID have not been registered, thecontrolling portion 31 notifies the terminal that they have not beenregistered.

Herein, an overall configuration of the data processing system accordingto Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described withreference to FIG. 5. In the example of FIG. 5, a mobile phone 20 is usedas the terminal. The mobile phone 20 is provided with a function toconnect to the internet 40 and display contents of a web-page, and afunction to pick up images by using an image pickup device that isprovided in the mobile phone 20. Moreover, the mobile phone 20 isprovided with software for analyzing the bar code and thetwo-dimensional code. Furthermore, the measurement apparatus isstructured to display the measurement data in the form of the QR code(registered trademark) 8 on the display screen 13.

In the data processing system shown in FIG. 5, a user can photograph theQR code (registered trademark) 8 that is displayed on the display screen13 of the measurement apparatus 10, by using the mobile phone 20, andfurther allows the mobile phone 20 to analyze the photographed image soas to form the measurement data for transmission.

Moreover, in the example of FIG. 5, the server 30 is a web server. Thus,the user accesses a web-page of the server 30 by using the mobile phone20, and transmits the measurement data from the mobile phone 20 to theserver 30 via the web-page. Furthermore, the measurement data of theuser that is accumulated in the server 30 is displayed on the displayscreen of the mobile phone 20 via the web-page.

Moreover, a doctor can access the web-page of the server 30 by using aPC 41 that is connected to the internet 40, and can browse themeasurement data of the user by a browser of the PC. Furthermore, thedoctor can provide advice based on the measurement data to the user bysending e-mails to the mobile phone 20 of the user.

Next, operations of the data processing system according to Embodiment 1shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6is a flow chart showing the processes that are performed by the dataprocessing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. InFIG. 6, flows of the respective processes of the measurement apparatus10, the terminal (mobile phone 20) and the server 30 are shown.Moreover, by operating the data processing system of Embodiment 1, thedata collection method of Embodiment 1 is performed by the server 30. Inthe below description, FIGS. 1 to 5 are referred to as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the measurement apparatus 10, the measurementdata firstly is obtained by the measurement portion 2 (Step S1). At thistime, the controlling portion 1 stores the obtained measurement datatogether with the time information into the memory portion 4.Subsequently, the obtained measurement data is displayed in numerals onthe display screen of the display portion 5 (Step S2). Thereby, the usercan check the measurement data.

Next, the controlling portion 1 of the measurement apparatus 10 judgeswhether the user has input the instruction for the code transformationor not (Step S3). More specifically, the controlling portion 1 judgeswhether the code transforming button 9 (see FIG. 2) has been pushed ornot. In the case of being pushed, the code transforming portion 3 readsout the measurement data, the time information and the addinginformation from the memory portion 4, and transforms the measurementdata, to which the adding information and the time information areadded, into a bar code, a two-dimensional code or a composite code (StepS4).

Thereafter, the bar code, the two-dimensional code or the composite codethat is obtained in Step S4 is displayed on the display screen 13 of themeasurement apparatus 10 (Step S5), and the processes of the measurementapparatus 10 are completed.

Also, in Embodiment 1, after obtaining the measurement data in Step S1and displaying the measurement data in Step S2 plural times, thejudgment in Step S3 and the transformation in Step S4 may be performed.In this case, Steps S3 to S5 are performed plural times for each set ofthe obtained measurement data.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, in the mobile phone 20, the controllingportion 21 firstly judges whether the instruction for photographing hasbeen input by the user or not, that is, the shutter button has beenpushed or not (Step S11). Herein, the image that is picked up by theimage pickup portion 22 is displayed on the display screen of the mobilephone 20 in real time, until the shutter button is pushed.

In the case where the shutter button has been pushed, the controllingportion 21 allows the image pickup portion 22 to perform photographing(Step S12). More specifically, the controlling portion 21 allows theimage pickup portion 22 to perform an electronic shutter operation andto output the image data.

Next, after the controlling portion 21 outputs the image data to theanalysis portion 25, the analysis portion 25 judges whether the barcode, the two-dimensional code or the composite code that is containedin the image data can be analyzed or not (Step S13).

In the case where image quality of the image data is low, the case wherea part of the code contained in the image data is lacked or the like,the analysis portion 25 judges that the analysis cannot be performed,and notifies the controlling portion 21 that the analysis cannot beperformed. In this case, the controlling portion 21 allows the displayscreen of the mobile phone 20 to display a notification that thephotographing will be performed again (Step S18). On the other hand, inthe case where the analysis portion 25 judges that the analysis can beperformed, the analysis portion 25 generates the measurement data fortransmission (Step S14). Furthermore, the controlling portion 21 allowsthe display screen to display a notification that the transmission canbe performed (Step S15).

Subsequently, the controlling portion 21 judges whether an instructionfor the transmission has been input by the user or not (Step S16), andin the case where the instruction has been input, the controllingportion 21 transmits, to the server 30, the measurement data fortransmission (Step S17). Thereby, the processes of the mobile phone 20are completed. As mentioned above, in the case where the plural sets ofthe measurement data are obtained by the measurement apparatus 10, StepsS11 to S17 are performed for each set of the obtained measurement data.

Moreover, in Embodiment 1, as mentioned above, since the server is theweb-server, the user accesses the web-page by using the terminal, andtransmits the data on the web-page. Furthermore, in the case where theterminal is a mobile phone, a PC or the like, the measurement data canbe transmitted easily by registering a URL of the web-page of theserver. Moreover, in the case where the transmission of the measurementdata is not completed normally, the server 30 notifies that thetransmission of the measurement data is not completed normally, and thenotification is displayed on the web-page, which is not illustrated inthe figure.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the server 30 firstly judges whether themeasurement data has been transmitted from the mobile phone 20 or not(Step S21). In the case where the measurement data has not beentransmitted yet, the server 30 assumes in a standby state. Furthermore,even in the case where the measurement data has been transmitted but thetransmission has not been completed normally, the notification that thetransmission has not been completed normally is displayed on theweb-page, and the server 30 assumes in a standby state, as mentionedabove.

In the case where the measurement data has been transmitted and thetransmission has been completed normally, the ID verifying portion 32judges whether the apparatus ID and the user ID contained in themeasurement data already have been registered or not (Step S22).

In the case where the apparatus ID and the user ID already have beenregistered, the controlling portion 31 of the server 30 specifies thesender (the measurement apparatus and the user) by the apparatus ID andthe user ID (Step S23), and allows the memory portion 34 to store themeasurement data (Step S24). In the memory portion 34, the measurementdata is accumulated for each of the users.

On the other hand, in the case where the apparatus ID and the user IDhave not been registered yet, the controlling portion 31 of the server30 shows, on the web-page, the notification that these IDs have not beenregistered yet. Moreover, a registration page for the user's IDregistration is shown so as to let the user to register his/her ID (StepS27). When the user registers his/her ID, the process proceeds to StepS23.

Next, the controlling portion 31 notifies the mobile phone 20 thecompletion of the process via the communication portion 33 (Step S25).In Embodiment 1, the web-page shows the notification that the processfor storing the measurement data has been completed. Subsequently, thecontrolling portion 31 notifies the PC 41 of the registered doctor thatthe new measurement data has been added (Step S26). In Embodiment 1, thenotification is transmitted to the PC 41 of the doctor by an e-mail. Asmentioned above, the processes of the server 30 are completed.

In addition, in the case where the plural sets of the measurement dataare obtained by the measurement apparatus 10, and Steps S11 to S17 areperformed for each set of the obtained measurement data, as describedabove, Steps S21 to S26 also are performed for each set of the obtainedmeasurement data.

As described above, according to Embodiment 1, the measurement data thatis obtained by the measurement apparatus can be captured into theterminal so as to be transmitted, without connecting the measurementapparatus with the terminal via an adaptor or a cable. Therefore, nointerface for the connection is required to be provided in themeasurement apparatus, unlike the conventional measurement apparatus,thereby reducing the cost for manufacturing the measurement apparatus.

Moreover, according to Embodiment 1, since the measurement data istransformed into the bar code, the two-dimensional code or the compositecode, the terminal (the mobile phone 20 or the like) that is providedwith the analyzing function can capture the measurement data from anytype of the measurement apparatus, and can transmit the measurementdata. Thus, it is not necessary to develop software for each measurementapparatus, unlike the conventional one.

Moreover, since the bar code, the two-dimensional code or the compositecode that satisfies the international standard can be used, thedevelopment of the software for analyzing the bar code, thetwo-dimensional code or the composite code is quite easy. Therefore,various types of mobile phones with different transmission methods canbe used as the terminal.

Embodiment 2

Next, a measurement apparatus, a data processing system and a datacollection method according to Embodiment 2 of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. Firstly,configurations of the measurement apparatus and the data processingsystem according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8.

The data processing system according to Embodiment 2 mainly is providedwith a measurement apparatus, a terminal and a server, similarly to thedata processing system of Embodiment 1. The measurement apparatusaccording to Embodiment 2 is similar to the measurement apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, also inEmbodiment 2, the measurement apparatus is a blood glucose measurementapparatus. Herein, similarly to Embodiment 1, the measurement apparatusis not limited to the blood glucose measurement apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a terminalaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7,in Embodiment 2, the terminal is not provided with an analysis portionfor the code analyses, which is distinct from the terminal according toEmbodiment 1 in this point. Thus, the terminal according to Embodiment 2transmits an image data of an image that is picked up by the imagepickup portion 22 to the server.

Moreover, also in Embodiment 2, a mobile phone, a PC and a PDA can beused as the terminal. However, in Embodiment 2, the terminal is notrequired to be provided with the analyzing function to analyze a barcode, a two-dimensional code or a composite code. Thus, a terminal thatis provided with a CCD camera or a CMOS camera and a function totransmit the image data can be used as the terminal according toEmbodiment 2.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the serveraccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8,the server according to Embodiment 2 is provided with an analysisportion 35, unlike the server according to Embodiment 1. Thus, inEmbodiment 2, a bar code, a two-dimensional code or a composite code isanalyzed in the server. Except for this point, the configuration of theserver according to Embodiment 2 is similar to that of Embodiment 1, andalso is provided with the controlling portion 31, the ID verifyingportion 32, the memory portion 34 and the communication portion 33.Moreover, also in Embodiment 2, the server is a web-server, similarly tothat of Embodiment 1.

The analysis portion 35 of the server has a function that is similar tothe function of the analysis portion 25 of the terminal according toEmbodiment 1 shown in FIG. 3. More specifically, the code analysis alsois performed by the analysis portion 35, by comparing: plural barpatterns or plural cell patterns that are stored in the memory portion34 of the server in advance as a reference; with a pattern that isspecified by the image data transmitted from the terminal. Moreover, thecell patterns or the bar patterns as the reference are stored so as tocorrespond to character codes that can be treated by the server.Therefore, due to the analysis by the analysis portion 35 of the server,measurement data that can be stored in the server is generated.

Moreover, in Embodiment 2, in the case where image quality of the imagedata is low, the case where a part of the bar code, the two-dimensionalcode or the composite code of the image data is lacking or the like, theserver notifies the terminal that the analysis cannot be performed.

Next, operations of the data processing system according to Embodiment 2will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flow chartshowing processes that are performed by the data processing systemaccording to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Also in FIG. 9,flows of the respective processes of the measurement apparatus, theterminal and the server are shown, similarly to FIG. 6. Herein, byoperating the data processing system according to Embodiment 2, the datacollection method according to Embodiment 2 is achieved by the server.In the below description, FIGS. 7 and 8 are referred to as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the measurement apparatus, the processes that aresimilar to the processes of Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 6 are performed.That is, by performing Steps S1 to S5, the bar code, the two-dimensionalcode or the composite code is displayed on the display screen of themeasurement apparatus.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, in the terminal (for example, a mobilephone), the controlling portion 21 firstly judges whether an instructionfor photographing has been input by the user or not (Step S31). Step S31is a step that is similar to Step 11 shown in FIG. 6. Also in Embodiment2, the image that is picked up by the image pickup portion 22 isdisplayed on the display screen of the terminal in real time, until theshutter button is pushed.

In the case where the shutter button is pushed, the controlling portion21 allows the image pickup portion 22 to perform photographing (StepS32). Step S32 is a step that is similar to Step S12 shown in FIG. 6.Subsequently, the controlling portion 21 judges whether an instructionfor the transmission has been input by the user or not (Step S33), andin the case where the instruction has been input, the controllingportion 21 transmits the image data obtained in Step S32 to the server(Step S34).

Herein, also in Embodiment 2, the server is a web-server, as describedabove. Thus, the user accesses the web-page by using the terminal, andtransmits the data on the web-page.

Moreover, in Embodiment 2, the server notifies the controlling portion21 whether the code analysis can be performed or not, as describedabove. Thus, after the completion of Step S34, the controlling portion21 checks whether the notification that the code analysis can beperformed has been transmitted from the server or not (Step S35).

In the case where, instead of the notification that the code analysiscan be performed, a notification that the code analysis cannot beperformed has been transmitted, the display screen (not illustrated) ofthe terminal displays the notification that the code analysis cannot beperformed (Step S36). On the other hand, in the case where thenotification that the code analysis can be performed is transmitted, theprocesses of the terminal are completed. Herein, as described above,since the server is the web-server, the notification whether the codeanalysis can be performed or not is shown on the web-page that isdisplayed on the display screen of the terminal.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, the server firstly judges whether themeasurement data has been transmitted from the terminal or not (StepS41). Step S41 is a step that is similar to Step 21 shown in FIG. 6. Inthe case where the measurement data has not been transmitted yet, theserver assumes in a standby state. Furthermore, also in Embodiment 2, inthe case where the transmission of the measurement data has not beencompleted normally, the notification that the transmission has not beencompleted normally is shown on the web-page, and the server assumes in astandby state.

In the case where the measurement data has been transmitted from theterminal, the analysis portion 35 of the server judges whether the codeanalysis can be performed or not (Step S42). In the case where the imagequality of the image data is low, the case where a part of the codecontained in the image data is lacked or the like, the analysis portion35 notifies the controlling portion 31 that the code analysis cannot beperformed. Thus, the controlling portion 31 notifies the terminal thatthe code analysis cannot be performed, via the communication portion 33(Step S49).

On the other hand, in the case where the code analysis can be performed,the controlling portion 31 notifies the terminal that the code analysiscan be performed, via the communication portion 33 (Step S43). InEmbodiment 2, these notifications are shown on the web-page of theserver.

When the notification that the code analysis can be performed istransmitted to the terminal, the ID verifying portion 32 judges whetherthe apparatus ID and the user ID contained in the measurement data havebeen already registered or not (Step S44). Step S44 is a step that issimilar to Step S22 shown in FIG. 6.

In the case where the apparatus ID and the user ID have been registered,the controlling portion 31 of the server specifies the sender (themeasurement apparatus and the user) by the apparatus ID and the user ID(Step S45), and allows the memory portion 34 to store the measurementdata (Step S46). Steps S45 and S46 are steps that are similar to StepsS23 and S24 shown in FIG. 6, respectively.

On the other hand, in the case where the apparatus ID and the user IDhave not been registered, the controlling portion 31 of the server 30allows the web-page to show the notification that these IDs have notregistered. Moreover, a registration page for the user's ID registrationis displayed so as to let the user to register his/her ID (Step S50).Step S50 is a step that is similar to Step S27 shown in FIG. 6. When theuser registers his/her ID, the process proceeds to Step S45.

Thereafter, the controlling portion 31 notifies the terminal that theprocess is completed (Step S47), and further sends an e-mail to the PC41 of the doctor so as to notify that the new measurement data is added(Step S48). Steps S47 and S48 are steps that are similar to Steps S25and S26 shown in FIG. 6, respectively. Thereby, the processes of theserver 30 are completed.

As described above, also in Embodiment 2, the data that is obtained bythe measurement apparatus can be captured into the terminal and can betransmitted, without connecting the measurement apparatus with theterminal via an adaptor or a cable, similarly to Embodiment 1. Moreover,similarly to Embodiment 1, the measurement data can be captured into anytype of the measurement apparatus, and thus, it is not necessary todevelop software for each measurement apparatus, unlike the conventionalone.

Moreover, in Embodiment 2, since the analysis of the bar code, thetwo-dimensional code or the composite code is performed by the server,the terminal is only required to be provided with an image-pickupfunction and a function to transmit the image data. Therefore, forexample, even a mobile phone that cannot be provided with applicationsoftware can be used as the terminal, and thus the alternatives for theterminal can be wider than those of Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

Next, a measurement apparatus, a data processing system and a datacollection method according to Embodiment 3 of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIG. 10. Firstly, configurations ofthe measurement apparatus and the data processing system according toEmbodiment 3 will be described.

Also in Embodiment 3, the data processing system mainly is provided witha measurement apparatus, a terminal and a server. Moreover, themeasurement apparatus is a blood glucose measurement apparatus thatmainly is provided with a controlling portion, a measurement portion, acode transforming portion, a memory portion, a display portion and aclock, similarly to the measurement apparatus shown in FIG. 1 inEmbodiment 1. Furthermore, the measurement apparatus has functions thatare similar to those of the measurement apparatus shown in FIG. 1 inEmbodiment 1.

However, in Embodiment 3, the measurement apparatus can obtain pluralsets of the measurement data, and also can transform the codes of theseplural sets of the measurement data at once. More specifically, thecontrolling portion allows the memory portion to store the plural setsof the measurement data that are output from the measurement portion,together with time information for specifying measurement dates andtimes of the respective sets of the measurement data. The codetransforming portion obtains the plural sets of the measurement data(containing the measurement dates and times) and adding information fromthe memory portion, and transforms whole information containing all ofthe information into a bar code, a two-dimensional code or a compositecode.

Herein, in Embodiment 3, as the terminal, the terminal shown in FIGS. 3and 5 in Embodiment 1 or the terminal shown in FIG. 7 in Embodiment 2can be used. Moreover, as the server, the server shown in FIG. 4 inEmbodiment 1 or the server shown in FIG. 8 in Embodiment 2 can be used.Furthermore, also in Embodiment 3, the measurement apparatus is notlimited to the blood glucose measurement apparatus.

Next, operations of the data processing system according to Embodiment 3will be described. In Embodiment 3, processes of the measurementapparatus are different from those of Embodiments 1 and 2. Processes ofthe terminal and the server are performed similarly to those ofEmbodiment 1 or 2. Also in Embodiment 3, by operating the dataprocessing system, the server achieves the data collection methodaccording to Embodiment 3.

The processes of the measurement apparatus according to Embodiment 3will be described with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flow chartshowing the processes that are performed by the measurement apparatusaccording to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10,the measurement portion 2 of the measurement apparatus firstly obtainsthe measurement data (Step S51). At this time, the controlling portionallows the memory portion to store the obtained measurement datatogether with the time information. Subsequently, the obtainedmeasurement data is displayed in numerals on the display screen of thedisplay portion 5 (Step S52). Steps S51 and S52 are steps that aresimilar to Steps S1 and S2 shown in FIG. 6 in Embodiment 1.

Subsequently, the controlling portion of the measurement apparatusjudges whether an instruction for the code transformation has been inputby the user or not (Step S53). Step S53 is a step that is similar toStep S3 shown in FIG. 6 in Embodiment 1. Also in Embodiment 3, thecontrolling portion judges whether the code transforming button (seeFIG. 2) has been pushed or not.

In the case where, as a result of the judgment, it is revealed that theinstruction for the code transformation has not been input by the user,the measurement apparatus is in a standby state until the nextmeasurement data is obtained. In Embodiment 3, Steps S1 and S2 arerepeated, until the number, which is intended by the user, of sets ofthe measurement data are obtained.

On the other hand, in the case where the instruction for the codetransformation has been input by the user, the code transforming portion3 reads out the plural sets of the measurement data, and the timeinformation and the adding information of the respective sets of themeasurement data from the memory portion 4. Moreover, the codetransforming portion transforms the plural sets of the measurement data,to which the adding information and the time information are added, intoa bar code, a two-dimensional code or a composite code at once (StepS54).

Thereafter, the bar code, the two-dimensional code or the composite codethat is obtained in Step S54 is displayed on the display screen of themeasurement apparatus (Step S55), and the processes of the measurementapparatus according to Embodiment 3 are completed. Step S55 is a stepthat is similar to Step S5 shown in FIG. 6 in Embodiment 1.

Thereafter, the terminal and the server perform the processes shown inFIG. 6 in Embodiment 1 or the processes shown in FIG. 9 in Embodiment 2.Herein, in Embodiment 3, since the information containing the pluralsets of the measurement data is transmitted to the server, the serverallows the memory portion to store the measurement data and itscorresponding time information so that they may be linked with eachother. Moreover, the server can transfer all of the added plural sets ofthe measurement data to the PC of the doctor.

As mentioned above, according to Embodiment 3, the plural sets of themeasurement data can be transmitted to the server at once. Thus, in thecase where the user may transmit, at once, plural sets of themeasurement data that are measured in one day, depending on, forexample, the condition of the sickness or the like of the user, theuser's effort can be reduced. Moreover, the convenience for the user canbe increased, also because, in the case where the user is outside acommunicative area of the terminal for a certain period of time, theuser can transmit untransmitted sets of the measurement data, which areobtained while he/she is outside the communicative area, at once whenthe he/she returns to the inside of the communicative area of theterminal.

Moreover, also in Embodiment 3, the data that is obtained by themeasurement apparatus can be captured into the terminal and can betransmitted, without connecting the measurement apparatus with theterminal via an adaptor or a cable, similarly to Embodiment 1.Furthermore, similarly to Embodiment 1, the measurement data can becaptured into any type of the measurement apparatus, and thus, it is notnecessary to develop software for each measurement apparatus, unlike theconventional one.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, according to the present invention, measurement datacan be read in and transmitted easily, without connecting a terminal fortransmitting the data with various types of measurement apparatuses.Therefore, the measurement data that is obtained by the various types ofthe measurement apparatuses can be processed easily, and the cost forconstructing the system can be reduced.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A data processing system at leastcomprising: a portable measurement apparatus provided with a displayscreen; a terminal; and a server, wherein the portable measurementapparatus comprises: a measurement portion for obtaining measurementdata; a code transforming portion for transforming the measurement datainto a bar code, a two-dimensional code or a composite code; a displayportion for displaying the code that is obtained by the transformationon the display screen; and a memory portion for storing the measurementdata, and the code transforming portion transforms the plural sets ofthe measurement data, which are stored in the memory portion, into a barcode, a two-dimensional code or composite code at once, the terminalcomprises; an image pickup portion for picking up an image on thedisplay screen that displays the code; an analysis portion forgenerating measurement data for transmission by analyzing the code thatis picked up; and a transmission portion for transmitting, to theserver, the measurement data for transmission, and the server comprisesa memory portion for storing the received measurement data fortransmission.
 2. The data processing system according to claim 1,wherein the measurement portion of the measurement apparatus obtains ablood glucose level, a blood pressure, a heart rate, the number ofsteps, a body weight, a body fat percentage or a cholesterol level of aliving body, as the measurement data.